Baby Shower!

Thank you to everyone for the great gifts and especially to Maryann (Tom's mom) who threw the shower for me. I had a lot of fun and got lots of great stuff for my baby girl. She is going to be even more spoiled then her mother...never thought that was possible. 

Julie made this awesome cake! She's a pro!


My sister in-law Denise and I


Cathie & Dad!


My friends, Jenielle, Julie, and Rebecca


My friend Rebecca and her cute daughter Natalie


Opening gifts...


me and my cute husband


Carolines got everything a girl could need (and this isn't even everything) ... but yet I still always find something to buy at the store. :)

SURPRISE!!!

Dad and Cathie came all the way from New Mexico and surprised me for my baby shower. It was great seeing them and I am so happy they came! I was sitting on the couch at church when my dad walked up behind me and asked where Tom was. Surprise! It was great.

Sunday we had my shower and Monday we did some shopping and went to the beach. They brought the sunshine with them...it's been raining almost every day for the past month of more. When they came it went away and now that they are gone it's pouring again! Thanks for the little bit of sunshine Dad and Cathie! :) 

Dad and Cathie- I love this picture of them.

Bows

Will someone tell me how to make cute little bows and flowers for Caroline....or a website that sells them at a reasonable price?? I think $17 and even $10 for a bow is rediculous when I can probably learn to make them myself. Thanks!

33 weeks and 5 days

I just keep getting bigger and bigger...I enjoy being pregnant, but it's getting really uncomfortable and I'm ready for her to arive.

Work Baby Shower

I work at a preschool and the kids (well, really my co-workers and the parents) gave me a surprise party on Friday. It was so cute. The kids prepared for it all week. Every time I would walk by the older kids classroom they would say "No, no. There's no surprises going on in here." Friday they called me into their classroom. I walked in and the kids were all sitting on the carpet with bibs on that they had made for me. They started singing a variation of Happy Birthday that went something like this "Happy baby to you, happy baby to you..." It was so stinking cute! They made me nachos with salsa and guacamole (one of my favorites) and baked me a cake. They all brought me presents and were so excited to see me open them. It was a really fun day...and despite the fact that I HATE attention, I had a really good time. My mother in-law is throwing me a shower next Sunday so I have to make it through one more day of attention. Hope I can handle it without turning red. :)

All the gifts I got plus $200 in gift card!The parents and my co-workers were so nice to do this for me!

I thought this was cute. It's a note from a little girl I watch named Caroline. She is 6 now, but I first met her when she was 3 and she was the first person I met named Caroline--it's just such a cute name!

One of the parents made these cute bottle cookies as favors for my party. Adorable!

Baby Caroline

I don't have any new pictures... nor do I have anything to blog about except my pregnancy. This baby pretty much takes up all my thoughts and energy. Hope I don't bore anyone by so many pregnancy posts... but hey, I'm sure at least my family in NM would like to know my life since I don't get to call much. 

I went to the doctor last week. My amniotic fluid level went back up... though not as high as before. The normal range is between 10-20 cm and you usually want to be right in the middle around 15 cm. The first time the doctor told me it was too high I was at 26 cm (30 usually sends you into labor). The next appointment I was at only 18 cm and this time I was at 21 cm. I did the Non Stress Test (NST) and everything seemed to be just dandy. In fact they said I was doing good for 30 weeks. I had a few contractions during the test, but I didn't even feel them. I go back next week to get an ultrasound and do the NST again. I'm actually happy to go to the Dr. all the time, I would probably be out of my mind worrying if I only went once a month. So glad I have insurance! 

Another problem, which maybe won't even be a problem, is that Caroline is still breech... in the transverse lie (across the womb) position. My Dr. seems a little concerned by this. Although many babies don't turn head down until later, he said that she needs to be in that position by 34 weeks... so 3 more weeks to go. I have been doing the breech tilt (I'm not smart enough to add links on here, so look it up) twice a day. Hopefully that works, though so far no luck. At my 34 wk appointment if she hasn't turned he is going to schedule me for the external version at around 36 wks (that's where they try to turn the baby for you). Hopefully she turns on her own because according to my Dr.  (whom I trust since he is a highly experienced high risk Dr. and head of the department at the hospital) I have a posterior placenta. This will make it less likely that he will be able to turn the baby through external version. If  he can't turn her, I will have to have a c-section THAT SAME DAY... and I DO NOT WANT A C-SECTION!!! I already have one scar and I don't like the idea of getting cut open twice within a year... although the last time was probably far more traumatic and less rewarding than this will be. I know it is possible to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean, but it's more risky, and the more times you get cut open the less children Dr.'s seem to think you should have. Those of you who know me well know I want lots of kids (I have gone down from wanting 10 to 6 though : P ). 

Getting to be pregnant for one month less may sound nice to some of you... but not me. I just want her to be strong and have as much time to grow in there as possible. Most Dr.'s will wait until 38 wks to try to turn the baby, but because of my high levels of amniotic fluid he does not want to take the risk of me going into  labor on my own with a  breech baby. Makes sense I guess.  

Well, that's the gist of it. Pregnancy is so complicated (for me at least), but I know it's worth it because I will be getting the GREATEST gift ever in the end! 

Finished!

I finished the baby room! Well, almost...I still need the baby, and I am going to get some vinyl lettering for above the changing table. What do you think? ...oh, and PS: I put everything together myself!!

The crib and glider


Close up of the crib and bedding...we got some AwSoMe deals...I LoVe deals!


Changing table...someone at BuyBuy Baby is in trouble because it is missing a pretty significant piece...it's supposed to go where the basket is so hopefully soon we will have it!


The whole shabang!

Good Baby!

So everything went great today! The amniotic fluid measured at 18.6 cm....down from 26 cm. Great news! 

I also don't have diabetes or any infection that might be harmful to the baby...in fact, it's apparently a good thing that I have been watching kids for so many years because I am actually immune to almost every infection that could hurt her. So I guess it was #4...just a fluke! A scary one though. 

She is still breech, but I still  have plenty of time for her to turn...and let's hope she does because I do not want a c-section!!! Although my surgery in August was different (they didn't cut through my uterus) I still do not want to go through the whole recovery of being cut open while trying to take care of a newborn. 

Only 82 more days!!!

Thanks for all your support everyone! 

Pregnancy Update

Well, I am now in the 3rd trimester (as of tomorrow morning). April 30th I went to the doctor and found out I have hydramnios (too much amniotic fluid). I was told that there are several reasons why this could happen to me. 

1. I may have diabetes. Hydramnios usually happens to about 10% of diabetic women and usually is diagnosed in the 3rd trimester. I was tested for it 4 weeks ago and didn't have it, but who knows, maybe now I do. I am being tested again on Thursday. 

2. Caroline could have some sort of birth defect. Sometimes the baby will have a problem that causes her to stop swallowing fluid while her kidneys continue to produce more urine from the fluid she's already swallowed....this means she could have plyoric stenosis, a cleft lip or palate, or some kind of blockage in the gestational tract. Also, some neurological problems can keep her from swallowing. She may also have some sort of bladder of kidney problem. Obviously we are hoping that this is not the case with our sweet Caroline. 

3. She could also have severe anemia caused by an infection. I did some tests and this is pretty much ruled out...but who knows? 

4. This whole thing could just be a fluke and the amniotic levels will eventually go back to "normal". 

Obviously, we are hoping for #4! I go to the doctor Thursday morning for an ultrasound to find out what the amniotic fluid level is. Also, I will be doing the diabetes test. We are just hoping for the best! I honestly feel like she is just fine. I feel her kicking all the time which makes me so happy! I feel blessed to have this little girl no matter what!

One of the risks with Hydramnios is preterm labor. My levels were at 26. According to my doctor if the level gets to 30 my water could break. So, if the level is still the same on Thursday, I will have to be tested weekly. If they have gone down, I am pretty much in the clear. But, if they have gone up I will need to have some amniotic fluid removed through a process just like amniocentesis. 

Pray for the best! 

The latest picture of Caroline. She is very flexible...notice the foot by her head.


me at 27 weeks

Weekend Upstate

I'm getting bad at updating this...maybe when I am home with baby Caroline I will have more time. 

Anyway, last weekend Tom and I went to upstate NY to his Uncle and Aunts cabin with our friends Dave and Julie. We drove up Friday night, spent most of Saturday in Cooperstown, NY which is where the Baseball Hall of Fame is. Tom and Dave really enjoyed that...and it was fun for Julie and I too. Saturday night and Sunday we spent enjoying the cabin. It was a GREAT weekend! 

Tom and I outside the Hall of Fame


Dave and Tom walking the streets of Cooperstown


Go Yankees!!


The great Hall of Fame!


Julie and I make Babe Ruth look good ;)


Babe Ruth


Dave and Tom




Tom and Dave rode the ATV's while Julie and I watched

It's a Miracle!!!!

So I came home from a wonderful day, and my day got even more wonderful!! MY INTERNET IS BACK! It's been a while, so you're going to have to scroll down to see all my posts! 

Sagamore Hill

Today was a gorgeous 75 degree day here on Long Island! Tom and I decided that since we only live 5 min. away from Theodore Roosevelts house, we should go see it!

His home...

Beautiful tree in the front of the house.

Tom and I 

Some beautiful wildflowers

There was a little path you could take down to the water. It felt so hot out I wanted to go for a swim...but the water was freeeeezing! 

Tom has a hidden talent that I never knew about...he is very good at skipping rocks. Check out the video :)

Can't leave out Caroline!

Baby Caroline is doing great and so is mom! She is now about 1.2 lbs and about 8.4 inches from crown to rump. I love being pregnant! She moves around and kicks me all the time and I love it!!! I can't wait to have her here!

Caroline's room...

22 wks...the most recent picture I have that I can stand to look at :) 

2-d image at 23 wks

3-d image at 23 wks

Christopher's Birthday

Our cute little nephew, Christopher, just celebrated his 2nd birthday!

Christopher

Nicholas (our nephew also)

me and my adorable nephew!

Some Photos from NEW MEXICO!

I'm a tad bit late on this (Feb 2009)...but what the heck! 

Muah in Old  Town

Me and 2 of my favorites from NM! Danielle, & Laura!

Laura and her new hubby Bryan

Me and Grandma Haggard

Me with 2 of my sisters! 

Carolines Room **UPDATED**

So my internet at home is STILL not working. So I emailed this picture to myself from my phone. The picture isn't that great...but here is a little preview until we get our internet up.